Thomas Aiken was the closest South African to first round co-leaders Aaron Rai, Jason Scrivener and Yusaku Miyazato when the first round of the Honma Hong Kong Open reached its conclusion on Thursday.

The trio took full advantage of favourable afternoon conditions to move past India’s Arjun Atwal, who had set the early clubhouse target with a flawless 66 on a cool and windy morning in Fanling.

Calmer weather opened the door for later starters Rai, Scrivener and Miyazato to produce opening 65s and move to the top of the leaderboard.

Three-time European Tour winner Atwal, Challenge Tour graduate Jack Singh Brar and American Micah Lauren Shin were the co-leaders’ nearest challengers on four under after they all carded four birdies and no bogeys in their opening rounds.

Aiken turned for his inward nine level par after a double bogey six at the ninth and erased that mistake with a birdie at 11 before an eagle 3 at the 13th.

A bogey at 17 offset his good work at the previous hole but he still leads the South African contingent which features eight players including Asian Tour representative Justin Harding. The Stellenbosch pro joined Jacques Kruswijk and Christiaan Bezuidenhout in the clubhouse on one under par with Haydn Porteous in between that bunch and Aiken’s tally.

Zander Lombard (+2), Keith Horne (+4) and Jbe Kruger (+5) all have work to do on Friday.

Photo: Luke Walker/Getty Images